Just in time for the holidays, we have a nasty national dispute over a "reality" TV show and it doesn't involve Kim Kardashian. This is one Christmas present that should be returned to sender.

The problem with the "Duck Dynasty" dustup is that it's a mish-mash. It involves some serious issues salted with a generous dose of nonsense. Please keep that in mind as you wade through the swamp.

Supporters of Phil Robertson think he's being harassed like a treed raccoon simply because he said some politically incorrect things. They note the hypocrisy of a pop culture that demanded Phil's scraggly scalp immediately but allowed TV host Martin Bashir to drag his feet for two long weeks before finally resigning from the liberal network MSNBC after saying vile things about Sarah Palin.

And they're right about that disparity. But that doesn't make Phil Robertson right.

Hey, it's foolish to think that black sharecroppers were happy in the 1950s and didn't realize they were poor and oppressed. I'm pretty sure they did. And whether you are OK with homosexuality or not, comparing it to bestiality goes a bit far. Actually, way too far.

But while many people were offended by what Robertson said, I wonder how many were surprised. After all, this is a grizzled country character with a beard longer than anyone in ZZ Top. Did anyone think that if asked about sensitive social topics lined with political minefields, he'd respond with something eloquent and refined? What do you think the wacky country characters in other "reality" shows like "Moonshiners" or "Porter Ridge" would say if you asked them the same questions? My guess is: pretty much the same as Phil's philosophizing.

Again, that doesn't make it right. It just makes it predictable.

Finally, remember that making money usually trumps everything else in entertainment. "Duck Dynasty" is the highest-rated show on cable TV. It makes a boatload of bucks for the A&E network and the Robertson family. Their natural inclination will be to keep the gravy train rolling.

A&E knows that if it drops "Duck Dynasty," some other network would rush in and rebrand it faster than you could say, "And now a few words from our sponsors." The only way this brouhaha finishes off the duck-calling clan is that the Robertson family figures it already has enough cash to support a nice retirement for the whole gang - which it probably does.

Don't be surprised if both parties try to smooth this over and work the whole thing into future episodes. This type of show may be called "reality" TV, but it's heavily scripted and rehearsed. Heck, if you let actual "reality" take place, you might get something like ol' Phil cutting loose and shaking everybody up.

-----------------------------

Thomas Taschinger, TTaschinger@BeaumontEnterprise.com, is the editorial page editor of The Beaumont Enterprise. Follow him on Twitter at @PoliticalTom